I get so tired of good-intentioned gushes of, “I just don’t know how you do it. I’d go crazy if I homeschooled and was home all day with my kids all the time. You’re a better person than I am.” I suppose that those are supposed to be compliments (?), but all I hear are recriminations of my own idiocy, misguided priorities and loss of touch with reality – my perception of their perceptions, I’ll admit. Sometimes I think of how it would be so much easier if I didn't mention homeschooling to Some People. I should just answer their questions with "I teach" rather than "I homeschool." But I'm kind of twisted and like the uncomfortable looks on Some People's faces. It's almost like I've said that I have 24 cats or communicate with space aliens. The looks people give are about the same for all three statements. Some People are so wrapped up in WHAT they do that they've lost WHO they are. It's sad to be so wrapped up in the what and not the who, but I digress.
Most days I really do enjoy homeschooling. I LOVE being home with my kids. I LOVE the schooling part. Watching them learn. Seeing their excitement. Building memories. Introducing them to new things. The freedom, ah yes, the freedom. I could go on for hours about the positives. But, let’s focus on the negatives for a bit, people. Sometimes I feel like I’m more about quantity than quality. I don’t like the hours after school is done and before bedtime on days when I cannot summon the mood to do all the Good Mommy things, such as crafts (*shudder*), visiting the park, baking cookies, etc. Y’all know the drill. Those afternoons are filled with pesky, witching hours around here. I wish I had a neighborhood full of kids so I could kick the kids out of the house to play until I called them at dinnertime, but I do not. Some days I feel the need to “get some things done around here.” The kids know this means Mom needs to be left alone to salvage what is left of her sanity.
Anyone else?
Amen! I'm with ya' sister. Homeschooling is a wonderful experience, but the sacrifice side is that you give up alot of "you" time or time period. I have to remind myself sometimes that just like I miss the time when my ds was in his footy pajamas curled up on my lap, I will someday miss this period in his life also (but it would be nice to have just an hour a day that was "all me").It is not everyday that I feel that way. Just every once in a while, I need no TV, no video games, no noise.
ReplyDeleteMy children are a bit older than yours. I can tell you that in a few years JT and MO will disappear (after class time of course) into their respective rooms and not come out again until called the 3rd or 4th time to dinner. The first few hours will be pleasant and enjoyable for you....then you will begin to wonder....what are they doing....don't they like me any more....don't they want to bake cookies with me....don't they want to go to the park??? and on and on. NO! your children now want THEIR OWN TIME ALONE! Such is life.
ReplyDeleteA thought: maybe you could set up a time everyday to "go to your room" alone for an hour or so and do whatever the heck you want to do. I know it would not be quite the same as being home alone but it might help the feeling of always being "on call" with the children.
Hang it there! Maybe it's time for a girls night out!
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